Pump plunger



' Dec. 8, 1936.

G. A. HATFIELD PUMP PLUNGER` Filed July 50, 1935 lull In d l" PatentedDec. s, 193s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,063,160 PUMP PLUNGERApplication July 30, 1935, Serial No. 33,837

8 Claims. (Cl. 309-33) This invention relates to pump plungers, and

more particularly to an improved packing means applicable forapplication to reciprocating pump pistons, particularly that type ofpiston commonly known as a pump plunger and as employed in oil well pumpbarrels that are suspended from a well tubing positioned within the wellhole.

In the operation of oil well pumps, the reciprocation of the plunger isusually eiected by sucker rods. In deep wells ranging from 4,000 to8,000 feet in depth, it has been found through experience that a deepwell plunger equipped with a conventional leather or composition packingcup will only operate for a comparatively` short period befo-re thepacking cups are completely destroyed or rendered incapable of providing.an adequate seal between the plunger and working barrel.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved packing unitapplicable for use upon a pump plunger employing a packing cupreinforced to withstand the high pressures incident to the increasedhydrostatic and velocity heads occasioned through the use of such pumpplungers in. deep wells.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it' is believed will beapparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional View of a deep well pump having a pumpplunger equipped with packing cup units embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmental cross-sectional elevationillustrating one of the packing cup units when new.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental cross-sectional elevation showing thepacking cup in its sealed position after it has been worn in service.

Figure 4 is a similar view illustrating the worn cup shown in Figure 3when the fluid pressure is removed. v

Figure 5 is a similar view of a packing cup that has been worn to apoint where it is rendered incapable of further use.

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevation illustrating thepacking cup embodying my invention adapted to a diierent type of pumpplunger.

Figure 'Z is an enlarged fragmental crosssectional elevationillustrating the packing cup embodying my invention adapted to a thirdtype of pump plunger.

In the drawing I have illustrated my invention as adapted to a well pumpof the travelling plunger type for the purposes of illustration only. Inthis illustration I indicates a well tubing from which there issuspended a working barrel 2. A standing valve 3 is seated upon a shoe 4attached to the lower end of the barrel 2.. A pump plunger assembly 5 isfitted within the barrel 2 and is connected to sucker rods Ii whichextend to the surface of the well and provide the connecting meansthrough the medium of which the pump plunger 5 is reciprocated ln thepump barrel 2.

A traveling valve 1 is provided in the plunger assembly 5 to permit thefree passage of fluid through the plunger on the downstroke of theplunger and prevent the return'flow of the fluid through the plunger onthe pumping or up-stroke thereof. The particular construction of theplunger is common in the art and may be of any 'of the many differentforms now commonly utilized in the art. The plunger assembly as hereinillustrated includes a mandrel 8, upon which the packing cups 9 aremounted in position to contact the inner wall of the pump barrel 2 andprovide a Huid-tight seal between the plunger 5 and the barrel 2. Thecups 3 may be formed of leather or any suitable molded compositematerial such, for example, as vulcanized rubber and duck fabric.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5,inclusive, the cups 9 are spaced along the mandrel 8 by means of cuprings Ill and cup followers II. The lower end of each cup 9 has areduced annular section I2 which is i clamped between a ring I 0 and afollower II.

The upper portion I3 and the lower portion I2 of the cups 9 and thefollower II cooperate to denne an annular recess I4 to receive areinforcing or armor ring I5.

The armor ring I5 is so proportioned in length and external diameter asto have a free-floating action within the barrel 2. 'I'he free-oatingaction is desirable to permit the armor ring I5 a. freedom of movementto compensate for the eccentricity of the pump barrel 2 usuallyoccasioned in wells due to the fact that very few, if any, well holesare straight holes.

In the particular packing unit that acts to form a seal between theplunger and the plunger barrel, the fluid being pumped enters the spacei6 between the cup 9 and the cup ring I0 and expands the upper portionI3 of the cup into sealing engagement with the wall of the pump barrel2.

Figures 3, 4, and 5 illustrate the operation of the cups 9 underconditions of wear occasioned from the continual reciprocation of thecups 9 within the pump barrel 2. The position of greatest wearingfriction between the cups 9 and the inner barrel 2 is as illustrated ata point spaced a distance above the armor ring I5.

It will be obvious from a consideration of the foregoing that the armorring I5 acts to prevent collapse or buckling of the cup 9 under highfluid pressure by reinforcing the cup immediately adjacent the upper orsealing portion I3 of the cup 9. The armor ring I5 is furthermorecapable of floating radially of the plunger to thereby adjust itselfrelative to the sealing portion of the cup 9 independently of anytendency of themandrel 8 to become misaligned with respect to the axisof the barrel 2. I

In Figure 6 I have illustrated a modification of my invention in whichthe rings l0* are assembled end to end by means of .a threadedconnection I1* to form a pump plunger assembly .'iL independently of amandrel. In this modificatlon each ring Ill is formed at its upper endIl to cooperate with the lower end of the next adjacent ring IDB toclamp the packing cups 9 into position. In this modification the armorring I5 surrounds each cup 9 and functions in every way the same as doesthe armor ring I5 set forth in connection with the illustration of myinvention shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive. l

In Figure 7 I have illustrated a further modiiication of 'my inventionwherein the rings IllIn and cup followers Ilb are assembled on a ma drel8b.

` Each follower IIb is formed with an annular groove` I8b to receive acomplementary annular tongue I9b formed on the lower end of each cup 9b.'Ihe cup 9b being semi-flexible can be sumciently distorted to cause thetongue I9b to snap into the groove |8b. With the cup 9b mounted on thefollower I Ib, the ring IIJb is pressed into position and acts toprevent the cup being withdrawn in service. As in the other modificationof my invention, an armor ring I5b surrounds each cup 9b and functionsin the same manner as in the other modifications of my inventionhereinabove set forth.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I donot wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my inventionis of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a packing assembly for a plunger. the

combination of an annular resilient packing element having a sealingportion adapted to be expanded into sealing engagement with the wall ofan encircling cylinder, means to' secure said element to the plunger,and a reinforcing ring encircling said element below the sealing portionthereof, said ring having limited radial freedom independent of theplunger to adjust itself with respect to the sealing portion of saidelement.

2. In a packing assembly for a plunger, the combination of an annularresilient packing element havingaI sealing portion adapted to beexpanded into sealing engagement with the wall of an encirclingcylinder, means. to secure said element to the plunger, and meansindependent of the latter said means encircling said elementintermediately thereof to confine the radial expansion of said elementimmediately adjacent the sealing portion thereof.

3. In a device of the character described for relative reciprocationwithin a cylinder, the combination of a plunger mounted within thecylinder, an annular resilient packing element having a sealing portionadapted to be expanded into sealing engagement with the inner Wall ofthe cylinder, means to secure the packing` element 'to the plunger, andmeans independent of the latter said means encircling the packingelement adjacent to the securing means to confine the radial expansionof the packing element immedilately adjacent the sealing portionthereof.

4. In a device of the class described, for relative reciprocation withina cylinder'the combination of a pump plunger mounted within thecylinder, an annular resilient packing element having a sealingA portionadapted to be expanded into seal- 5. In a device of the class described,for relative reciprocation within a cylinder the combination of a pumpplunger mounted within the cylinder, an annular resilient packingelement having a sealing portion adapted to be expanded into sealingengagement with the inner wall of the cylinder, means for securing thepacking element at one end to the plunger, and means independent of thelatter said means and spaced in position adjacent the secured endthereof to confine the radial expansion of the packing elementimmediately adjacent the sealing portion thereof, and said latter meanshaving a limited radial freedom independent of the plunger to permitadjustment with respect to the sealing portion of said packing element.i

6. In a device of the character described for relative reciprocationwithin a cylinder, the combination of a. plunger mounted within thecylin`- der, an annular resilient packing element mounted between theplunger and the cylinder and having a sealing portion adapted to beexpanded into sealing engagement with the wall of the cylinder, lockingmeans for securing the packing element to the plunger, and an armor ringencircling the packing element adjacent the locking means' to confinethe radial expansion of the packing element immediately adjacent thesealingv portion thereof.

7. In a device of the character described for a relative reciprocationwithin a cylinder, the combination of a plunger mounted within thecylinder, an annular resilient packing element mounted between theplunger andthe cylinder an-d having a sealing portion adapted to beexpanded into sealing engagement with thefwall of the cylinder, lockingmeans for securing the packing element to the plunger, an armor ringencircling the packing element adjacent the locking means to confine theradial expansion of the packing element immediately adjacent the sealingportion thereof, and said armor ring being so formed and proportioned asto permit limited radial freedom independent of the plunger to permitthe armor ring to adjust itself with respect to the sealing portion ofsaid packing element.

8. In a packing assembly for a plunger, the combination of an annularresilient packing element having a sealing portion adapted to beexpanded into sealing engagement with the Wall of an encirclingcylinder2 and having an anchored portion below the sealing portionadapted to bel i secured to the plunger, said element being formed onits outer periphery intermediately of said aforesaid portions to definea downwardlyv facing annular shoulder, and a reinforcing ring encirclingsaid element below said sealing portion adapted to engage and supportsaid shoulder, said ring being `free to adjust itself with respect tothe sealing portion of said element independently of the plunger.

GEORGE A. HA'I'FIELD.

` CERTIFICATE O1" CORRECTION.

patent N6. 2,063,160. member a, 193s.

George A. Hatfield.

certified thuat error appears in the a'oove numbered as follows: In thedrawing, Figure 2 should s in the present drawing of the pntent:

It isL hereby lpatent requiring correction appear as shovm below insteadof e and that the ma Lettere Patent mula be read with this correctiontherein that the same may co nform to the record. of ,the case in theP'atent Office. i

Signed and sealed this .23rd dey of March, LD. 1937*.

Henry Van rs'dae (Seel) Acting Conmissioner of Patents.

